May 28 & 29, 2020 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/29/2020
Made in 1939 on a "00" frame with 28" Titanic barrels that have matted concave rib with twin ivory beads and standard rib legend. Barrel flats with Parker Bros. proof marks and marked "SKEET IN / SKEET OUT" along with unstruck barrel weight of 2 lbs 12 oz. Beavertail forend checkered in standard late DHE Grade pattern with case hardened and engraved Deeley latch. The case hardened action is engraved in standard late "DHE" grade pattern with setter on right, pointer on left in game scene surrounded by Parker scroll and four pheasants in scene on trigger plate. Made with single selective trigger, auto ejectors, and non-auto safety. The flame grained American walnut capped pistol grip buttstock is checkered in point pattern and terminates with its original blued and engraved skeleton buttplate and has silver oval near toe. Housed in what appears to be its original toe under Abercrombie and Fitch leather case with proper canvas cover. Canvas cover with name "TOWNSEND" on top. CONDITION: Extremely fine and choice. Investment grade. Barrels retain more than 97% plum original blue with minor speckling. Action retains virtually all of its bold original case colors vivid and bold throughout with only beginning sharp edge wear. Forend retains nearly all of its original finish and forend iron retains nearly all of its original case color, starting to tone. Top lever with proper late manufacture cyanide case color. Trigger guard retains virtually all of its deep original blue. Buttstock retains nearly all of its original finish though the gun must have sat in the case for many many years unused as the fabric pattern has slightly imprinted in to the finish towards the butt. The buttplate retains virtually all of its bold original blue. The top butt plug is partially inserted. Screws are perfect throughout this fine gun. Bores are brilliant and shiny. Mechanics are crisp. Case is excellent as is the canvas cover and both have minor rubs. It is interesting to note that this DHE is in the serial number range of the Kornbrath engraved DHE grade guns. This is truly a gem of a DHE and the finest of its type our firm has marketed. PROVENANCE: From the Carl Balderson Jr. Estate Collection. Carl acquired this gun from Joe Townsend (original owner whose name is on the case) in May, 2000 one week before Mr. Townsend passed away. PGCA Letter indicates the gun was shipped to Iver Johnson Sporting Goods in Boston, MA 2/10/1939 and confirms the configuration as found today. JSL
Item Dimensions: Case: 10" x 30 - 1/2" x 3 - 1/2".
Barrel Wall Thickness
(L) .024 (R) .022
Internal Bore Diameter
(BOTH) .550
Length of Pull
14 - 1/8" from rear position SST